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clock Dial resilvering,

Hi All, just wondered, doing my 1st clock dial renovation and just wondered after applying the silvering powder how long do you leave the powder on the dial before you wash it off, any info on the whole subject would be very appreciated,

you rub the silvering powder with your finger against the prepared brass surface until it is silvered. you need to add enough water to make a loose paste as the water facilitates the ion displacement. You can only displace the copper ions on the surface, so you can't add any more once fully silvered.

It's all by feel. My first silvering job looked awful. I did not leave the powder on the dial long enough. Sometimes the silver really applies well, and other times you really need to scrub it in. It's also important that the dial be "grained" and very well cleaned of any oils before starting.

Hi i have done quite a few dials since my post with some great success and a few not so good, due to poor preparation, so this is my take on the job, it may help some people out, the best way i found to do the the job was to put some water in a container then put an amount of powder on a plastic type lid, clean the clock dial properly getting rid of all the grime, then i rub the dial down with 400 wet and dry and then some finer grades look at the dial and try to get it looking the same all over as anything on the dial usually shows through, but this is not always avoidable, but you should be able to improve the dials appearance anyway give the dial another clean and thorough rinse, then dip a small paint brush in the water and dab it in your powder and apply to the dial in a circular motion, very soon you should see the dial changing get an even coat all over, i leave it about 15 mins then rinse off properly, then if it looks ok and im happy with the even finish i will go through the same procedure with the neutralizing powder, then dab it dry and use a hair dryer just to make sure, if your not happy with the finish go through the same thing again, its recommended you use de ionized water, thats up to you, this is my take and personal experience, some professionals may chime in and shoot me out the sky who knows, this works great for me, what i can say is dont be scared to have a go, the dial numerals on the dials i have done have been fairly intact but i would not have any probs using engravers wax to re black them there is plenty of info about that on the net, does not look like rocket science to me

I would not be happy using something as coarse at 400 grit on my chapter rings, it is important to remove as little material as possible as some of the engraving is already very shallow.

I too use plastic bottle lids (I use milk bottle lids) I set those up and have water in another dip my finger in the water and then use the damp finger to pick up the silver chloride. I have never tried a paintbrush, I like to feel what I'm doing and also to make sure I get the silver chloride in contact with the whole surface I press it down and rub it into the brass. keeping it with enough water to make a paste. I use tap water, 300 years ago they would have used well or rainwater, neither is deionised. They made their silver chloride by heating nuggets of silver in brine.

Yes i agree i would like you, go for a finer wet and dry type sand paper on reflection, but some of the dials i practiced on were very rough, i tried using 0 wire wool but i was finding it left little shards and had no real affect on the grime, so then went to wet and dry paper, as for a paint brush its just how i started so have just stuck to it after my 1st successful dial, rely dont do many as i have started to become very interested in early carriage clocks and pocket watches, but still clocks, bought a few at auction the other day, got a bit carried away again but once your hooked thats it.

I'm definitely hooked on longcase, have more than I can fit in already but am still looking at others, might need to move to a bigger house! Horror of horrors I might even have to sell some! (I've already got on out on loan) I'm now trying to concentrate on earlier ones so only really before 1720, and looking for before 1700.

I would keep wirewool away from your dials the rust staining would be a real pain. I clean with a soft brass bristle brush for the dial plates themselves. The plates have been hardened by hammering so the brush is softer than the plastes.

It's all by feel. My first silvering job looked awful. I did not leave the powder on the dial long enough. Sometimes the silver really applies well, and other times you really need to scrub it in. It's also important that the dial be "grained" and very well cleaned of any oils before starting.

It doesnt actually have to be grained to work, (although aesthetically it might look better). I experimented and polished some scrap brass to the highest shine I could achieve. It silvered perfectly. Agree about the oils though, even touching the cleaned dial with fingers can mar the finish